Indian Army Helicopter Crashes Near Ranjit Sagar Dam, Searches Going On

A helicopter of the Indian Army crashed near Ranjit Sagar Dam lake in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district. An NDRF team has been deployed to carry out search and rescue operations.

The helicopter of the 254 Army Aviation Squadron took off from Mamun Cantt at 10:20 am. The helicopter was carrying out low-level sorties in the Ranjit Sagar Dam area when it crashed.

“Rescue teams have been rushed to the spot. Divers have also been called in. There is no information about the number of people who were on board this chopper,” said RC Kotwal, SSP, Kathua district.

“We have pressed into service divers and motorboats but there is no clue so far,” Kotwal said. In the evening a heavy-lift chopper, Chinook was also pressed into search and rescue operation. The SSP pointed out that the depth of the lake was between 200 to 250 feet in the area of the crash and while the rescue team including specialised forces had recovered some floating objects from the lake, retrieving the wreckage will take time.

“Deepwater divers are at the job, but the operation will take time. We have also retrieved two helmets, which are most likely of the two pilots, who were flying the helicopter,” Kotwal said, adding that the water was not clear.

Army ambulances, two helicopters, senior army officers, and civil administration officials were also on the spot.

An army officer said that a pilot and co-pilot ( A Lt Col & A Capt ) were flying the chopper when it went down into the dam all of a sudden. The chopper belonged to the 254 Army Aviation Squadron.

“Searches are on to trace and rescue the two pilots” he added.

Let’s pray for their safe return

More Details Awaited.

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